. >> right now congress can pass a law that would prevent a tax hike on the first $250,000 of everybody's income, everybody. and that means that 98% of americans and 97% of small businesses wouldn't see their income taxes go up at all. and even the wealthiest americans would get a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income. >> but republicans led by house speaker john boehner said the president should quit campaigning and take care of business and some suggest that the president is playing a dangerous game of political brinksmanship. >> i think that the democrats and the president view it to their advantage to run the clock out and dangerously close by the end of the year. if there's a break through, in a short manner, takes a while to get proposals scored by the budget office and legislation drafted. if we were going to act on something until the end of the year, you can't wait until christmas day and hope to pass by new years day. >> reporter: and the latest round of political maneuvering involves pressure from nancy pelosi, democratic leader in the house, to be extend the middle